The
UDM welcomes the recognition by the Auditor General of Parliament's Public
Accounts Committee (SCOPA). His letter to SCOPA indicating that the arms deal
investigation report may be delayed for two to three weeks hopefully dispels
fears that the report will not be tabled at SCOPA at all. We congratulate the
Auditor General for acting contrary to the forces that have consistently sought
to undermine SCOPA.

The UDM is disappointed with this delay, nonetheless. It must be avoided at all
costs that games are played with this report and it's tabling. The delay also
means that SCOPA will have to extend its programme to deal with the report as
soon as it is tabled. The end result may well be that Parliament has to sit
during the recess in order to endorse SCOPA's findings and ensure that this
report is dealt with the seriousness it deserves. We cannot allow a situation
where the consideration of this report is delayed until next year; the country
needs clarity on this issue as soon as possible.